Victims could greatly exceed 25,000, warns probe chief

TENS of thousands of Britons could be infected as a result of the contaminated blood scandal, the former judge leading an inquiry has suggested.

Sir Brian Langstaff addressed the hundreds of people who attended the start of the Infected Blood Inquiry in London yesterday.

He said: “It is a truly sobering thought that if some of the claims are well-founded — and it is for this inquiry to find out if they are — there may yet be many thousands more who do not feel well, but have not yet been told

Through tears, Simon said: “The impact has been traumatic ... I lost two cousins. They’re not here today to see this, I might not have been here or my brother.

“When you realise that, it has that the reason for this is that they suffer from Hepatitis C.”

Sir Brian said it is estimated that the number of infected could go far beyond 25,000 adding that there is a “real chance that these estimates may prove right”.

He added: “A sobering thought that the consequences of what was done then may be continuing to cause death even now.”

Victim Michelle Tolley, from Norfolk, spoke as the probe into

a lot of emotional impact. I find myself tearful every time I talk about it.

“I’ve a son, a wife and a family and they could have been left without me, just as others have been. the deaths of over 2,400 people infected with HIV and Hepatitis C as a result of the scandal began. “Anyone who may be responsible... they need to be held accountable and prosecuted if needs be — I strongly believe that,” she said. “People need to know that this tragedy happened. “This is the worst tragedy in the history of the NHS and it must never ever happen again, absolutely never.”

The inquiry continues today.

“The only thing I’m sure of is that I’m healthy for the next six months.

“I’m going to be scanned for the rest of my life to make sure I don’t develop cancer.

“I live on my faith because